Honda may soon be flying a prototype eVTOL, three years after announcing it would enter the electric air-taxi world. The automotive giant has had a long presence in the aviation world with its HondaJet line, but has kept its eVTOL project top secret.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted an exemption to the Honda Research Institute (HRI) that would allow the company to fly a subscale prototype for research and development, according to Ainonline.com. The letter of exemption refers to the unmanned test vehicle N241RX.
Honda’s website says it would have eight propellers for vertical lift and two rear-mounted propellers for forward propulsion. The eVTOL may also have a hybrid propulsion system with a gas turbine generator, giving it a range of 250 miles.
HRI’s aerospace engineering division is based in San Luis Obispo, California. HRI hasn’t revealed when the first test flights might occur. “Our know-how in the FAA certification process will enable us to increase the efficiency of eVTOL development and speed up the delivery of Honda eVTOL to our customers,” said its website. “Moreover, Honda will make a great use of its expertise in lightweight structures and production technologies unique only to aircraft.”
Honda is joining two other global automotive makers with big stakes in the eVTOL world. Supernal, which is backed by parent Hyundai, will be doing its first full-scale prototype test in 2025, while Toyota is Joby’s largest financial backer, having recently invested $500 million and another $394 million in 2020.
Meanwhile, EHang made another significant leap for the eVTOL world. The Chinese firm was first to market with its two-person, pilot-less EH216-S. It received its type certification last year from China’s aviation authority. Earlier this week, it tested what it calls the world’s first solid-state battery in its eVTOL.
The company said the battery’s 500 Wh/kg of energy would nearly double the current flight time of the eVTOL from 25 to 48 minutes, 10 seconds. The flight-time increase could mean the EH216-S would have other applications such as aerial logistics and high-rise firefighting. Besides superior energy density over normal lithium-ion batteries, EHang claims improved thermal stability, reduced flammability, improved storage stability, and less required maintenance.
“EHang has not only made strides in solid-state battery technology but has also collaborated with partners to develop other batteries tailored to specific applications, such as ultra-fast charging and discharging battery solutions for high-frequency short-haul flights,” said EHang COO Zhao Wang in a statement.
The company hopes to start larger-scale production of the batteries, with its manufacturing partner, in 2025. Solid-state battery technology could be a game-changer in the eVTOL world if it can be applied to larger, longer-range, five-person air taxis.
